Description
Delight in these pastel sugar cookie sandwiches, perfect for any celebration or a sweet treat. Soft, fluffy sugar cookies tinted in charming pastel colors sandwich a creamy vanilla filling, creating a visually appealing and delicious dessert that’s easy to make and sure to impress.
Ingredients
For the Sugar Cookies:
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons milk
- Gel food coloring (pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple)
For the Vanilla Filling:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream or milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Make the Cookie Dough: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy, approximately 2 minutes. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly until fully incorporated.
- Combine the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add these dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed. The dough will become thick yet soft. Add the milk and mix until just combined.
- Color the Dough: Divide the dough evenly into five portions. Using gel food coloring, tint each portion a different pastel shade (pink, yellow, green, blue, and purple). Knead the coloring into each dough portion until it is evenly distributed and vibrant.
- Shape and Bake: Scoop about one tablespoon of dough for each cookie and roll it into a smooth ball. Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 8-10 minutes, until the edges are set and the tops appear slightly cracked but not browned. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Vanilla Filling: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the powdered sugar, then mix in the heavy cream or milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Continue beating until the mixture becomes fluffy and spreadable. Adjust the consistency by adding more cream if too thick, or more powdered sugar if too thin.
- Assemble the Cookie Sandwiches: Once the cookies are fully cooled, pair them up by similar size. Using a piping bag or spoon, spread a generous amount of vanilla filling onto the flat side of one cookie. Top with the second cookie and press gently to evenly distribute the filling.
- Set Before Serving: Allow the cookie sandwiches to sit for about 10 minutes at room temperature so the filling can firm up slightly, making them easier to handle and enjoy.
Notes
- Use gel food coloring to achieve vibrant pastel shades without altering the dough consistency.
- For a slightly softer cookie, reduce baking time to 8 minutes; for a crisper edge, bake closer to 10 minutes but watch carefully.
- Ensure cookies are completely cooled before filling to prevent melting the filling.
- Store assembled cookie sandwiches in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Feel free to experiment with different fillings like chocolate ganache or cream cheese frosting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie sandwich
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
